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India West Asia trade drops over 28% in April for second month as shipping lanes choke
India
Published on 15 May 2026
Strait of Hormuz restrictions are now hitting exports
India’s merchandise exports and imports with West Asia fell more than 28% in April, the second straight monthly contraction, as ship movements were severely disrupted by the US-Israel-Iran conflict. Exports to the region dropped 28% to $4.16 billion and imports fell 31.64% to $10.47 billion. Trade with the UAE and parts of Saudi Arabia weakened, while Oman imports surged. The Strait of Hormuz restrictions are throttling a key route, threatening sectors like gems, engineering, electronics, and oil-linked supplies.
- April exports to West Asia slid 28% to $4.16 billion
- April imports from West Asia dropped 31.64% to $10.47 billion
- Overall trade contracted for a second straight month by 28%+
- UAE exports fell 36.39% and UAE imports fell 34.63% in April
- Oman imports surged 246.42% to $1.48 billion in April
- Strait of Hormuz shipping disruptions are affecting multiple sectors
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times